Chapter 4: Theoretical Perspectives

Free Association (86)

A methods used in psychoanalysis in which the client speaks freely, saying whatever comes to mind

Polygenic (73)

A model of inheritance in which more than one gene participates in the process of determining a given circumstances

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) (76)

A small genetic variation that can occur in a persons DNA sequences

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) (79)

A somatic treatment in which a neurosurgeon implants a micro-electrode that delivers a constant low electrical

Unconditional Positive Regard (93)

A method in client-centered therapy in which the clinician gives total acceptance of what the client says, does and feels

Neurotransmitter (72)

A chemical substance released from a neuron into the synaptic cleft, where it drifts across the synapses and is absorbed by the receiving neuron

Motivational Interviewing (MI) (93)

A directive, client-centered style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients explore and resolve ambivalence

Contingency Management (89)

A form of behavioral therapy that involves the principle of rewarding a client for desired behaviors and not providing rewards for undesirable behaviors.

Psycho-Surgery (78)

A form of brain surgery, the purpose of which is to reduce psychological disturbances

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (91)

A form of cognitive therapy that helps clients accept the full range of their subjective experiences, such as distressing thoughts and feelings, as they commit themselves to task aimed at achieving behavior change that will lead to an improved quality of life.

Token Economy (89)

A form of contingency management in which a client learns who performs desired activities earn chips or tokens that can later be exchanged for tangible benefits

Vicarious Reinforcement (87)

A form of learning in which a new behavior is acquired through the process of watching someone else receive reinforcement for the same behaviors

Neuromodulation (79)

A form of psychiatric neurosurgery in which permanently implanted electrodes trigger responses in specific brain circuits, as needed

Participant Modeling (89)

A form of therapy in which the person is interested solely in sexual gratification from a specific body part, such as feet

Operant Conditioning (87)

A learning process in which an individual acquires behaviors through reinforcement

Cognitive Perspective (89)

A theoretical perspective in which it is assumed that abnormality is cause by maladaptive thought processes that result in dysfunctional nehavior

Family Perspective (94)

A theoretical perspective in which it is assumed that abnormality is caused by disturbances in the pattern of interactions and relationships within the family

Behavioral Perspective (86)

A theoretical perspective in which it is assumed that abnormality is caused by faulty learning experiences

Biological Perspective (72)

A theoretical perspective in which it is assumed that disturbances in emotions, behavior, and cognitive processes are cause by abnormalities in the functioning of the body.

Psychiatric Neurosurgery (78)

A treatment in which a neurosurgeon operates on brain regions

Systematic Desensitization (88)

A variant of counter conditioning that involves presenting the client with progressively more anxiety provoking images while in a relaxed state

Psycho-Sexual Stages (82)

According to psychoanalytic theory, the normal sequence of development through which each individual passes between infancy and adulthood

Client-Centered (92)

An approach based on the belief held by Rogers that people are innately good and that the potential for self-improvement lies within the individual

Humanistic Perspective (91)

An approach to personality and psychological disorder that regards people as motivated by the need to understand themselves and the world and to derive greater enrichment from their experiences by fulfilling their unique individual potential

Personality Trait (80)

An enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and others

Libido (82)

An instinctual pressure for gratification of sexual and aggressive desires.

Theoretical Perspective (72)

An orientation to understanding the causes of human behavior and the treatment of abnormality

Endophenotypes (74)

Biobehavioral abnormalities that are linked to genetic and neurobiological causes of mental illness

Allele (72)

One of two different variations of a gene

Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) (76)

Genetic method in which researchers scan the entire genome of individual who are not related to find the associated genetic variations with a particular disease

Genome-Wide Linkage Study (76)

Genetic method in which researches study the families of people with specific psychological traits or disorder

Automatic Thoughts (90)

Ideas so deeply entrenched that the individual is not even aware that they lead to feelings of unhappiness and discouragement

Self-Actualization (92)

In humanistic theory, the maximum realization of the individual's potential for psychological growth

Pleasure Principle (82)

In psychoanalytic theory, a motivating force oriented toward the immediate and total gratification of sensual needs and desire

ID (81)

In psychoanalytic theory, the structure of personality that contains the sexual and aggressive instincts

Superego (82)

In psychoanalytic theory, the structure of personality that includes the concussion and the ego ideal, it incorporates societal prohibitions and exerts control over the seeking of instinctual gratification

Secondary Process Thinking (82)

In psychoanalytical theory, the kind of thinking involved in logical and rational problem solving

Reality Principle (82)

In psychoanalytical theory, the motivational force that leads the individual to confront the constraints of the external world

Ego (82)

In psychoanalytical theory, the structure of personality that gives the individual the mental powers of judgement, memory, perception, and decision making, enabling the individual to adapt to the realities of the external world

Object Relations (85)

One's unconscious representations of important people in one's life

Cognitive Restructuring (90)

One of the fundamental techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy in which clients learn to re-frame negative ideas into more positive ones.

Dysfunctional Attitudes (90)

Personal rules or values people hold that interfere with adequate adjustment

Social Learning Theory (87)

Perspective that focuses on understanding how people develop psychological disorders through their relationships with others and through observation of other peopl

Social Discrimination (94)

Prejudicial treatment of a class of individuals, seen in the sociocultural perspective as a cause of psychological problems

Epigenesis (75)

Process through which the environment causes genes to turn "off" or "on"

Psycho-Therapeutic Medications (78)

Somatic treatments that are intended to reduce the individual's symptoms by altering the levels of neurotransmitters that researchers believe are involved in the disorder

Classical Conditioning (86)

The learning of a connection between an originally neutral stimulus and a naturally evoking stimulus that produces an automatic reflexive reaction

Defense Mechanism (82)

Tactics that keep unacceptable thoughts, instincts, and feelings out of conscious awareness and thus protect the ego against anxiety

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) (79)

The application of electrical shock to the head for the purpose of inducing therapeutically beneficial seizures

Phenotype (73)

The expression of the genetic program in the individual's physical and psychological attributes

Genotype (72)

The genetic makeup of an organism

Person-Centered Theory (91)

The humanistic theory that focuses on the uniqueness of each individual, the importance of allowing each individual to achieve maximum fulfillment of potential, and the need for the individual to confront honestly the reality of his/her experiences in the world

Self-Efficacy (87)

The individual's perception of competence in various life situations

Counter-Conditioning (88)

The process of replacing an undesired response to a stimulus with an acceptable response.

DNA Methylation (75)

The process that can turn off a gene as a chemical group, methyl, attaches itself to the gene

Diathesis-Stress Model (75)

The proposal that people are born with a predisposition (or "diathesis") that places them at risk for developing a psychological disorder if exposed to certain extremely stressful life experiences

Epigenetics (73)

The science that attempts to identity the way that the environment influences genes to produce phenotypes

Reinforcement (87)

The strengthening of a behavior

Psycho-Dynamic Perspective (81)

The theoretical orientation in psychology that emphasizes unconscious determinants of behavior

Sociocultural Perspective (94)

The theoretical perspective that emphasizes the ways that individuals are influenced by people, social institutions, and social forces in the wordl around them

Attachment Style (85)

The way a person relates to a caregiver figure

Ego Psychology (84)

Theoretical perspective based on psychodynamic theory emphasizing the ego as the main force in personality

Multicultural Approach (95)

To therapy, therapy that relies on awareness, knowledge, and skills of the client's sociocultural context

Five Factor Model "Big Five" (80)

Trait theory proposing that there are five basic dispositions in personality

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (90)

Treatment method in which clinicians focus on changing bot maladaptive thoughts and maladaptive behaviors